Measuring device for mobile harvesting machines

Abstract

A mobile harvesting machine, in particular a forage harvester, has a measuring device for determining a parameter specific to crop material or conveyed material. Here the harvesting machine comprises an attachment for picking up the crop material and at least one implement for working the crop material. The measuring device in the harvesting machine is arranged on the path of crop material between the implement and the region in which the stream of crop material has been brought to its final stream width. In this region it is ensured that the stream of crop material exerts a low pressure on the measuring device. Another advantage is that due to the site of attachment, the pressure difference is minimal for different throughputs of crop material. This arrangement of the measuring device further allows good checking of the measuring device for wear and soiling and is easily accessible in case of possible repairs.

I claim:  
     
       1. In a mobile harvesting machine for harvesting agricultural crops and having an attachment for picking up crop material, at least one implement for working the crop material, and discharge means for ejecting a stream of the crop material from the machine; an improvement comprising: 
       at least one measuring device on the harvesting machine for determining a parameter specific to crop material and which is arranged on a path of the crop material between the at least one implement for working the crop material and a region in the discharge means at the final width of the stream of the crop material prior to discharge of the crop material from the discharge means.  
     
     
       2. A mobile harvesting machine according to claim  1 , wherein said measuring device is arranged directly behind the at least one implement for working the crop material. 
     
     
       3. A mobile harvesting machine according to claim  1 , wherein said discharge means is an ejector shaft, and said measuring device is mounted on a wall of the ejector shaft. 
     
     
       4. A mobile harvesting machine according to claim  3 , wherein the ejector shaft wall has an inspection opening therein; including a check flap removably covering the inspection opening; and wherein said measuring device is mounted on the check flap. 
     
     
       5. A mobile harvesting machine according to claim  4 , wherein said check flap is pivotably mounted on the ejector shaft wall. 
     
     
       6. A mobile harvesting machine according to claim  1 , wherein said measuring device is arranged in a middle of the stream of crop material. 
     
     
       7. A mobile harvesting machine according to claim  1 , wherein said measuring device is a sensor for moisture measurement. 
     
     
       8. A mobile harvesting machine according to claim  1 , wherein said measuring device is a device for determining throughput of the crop material. 
     
     
       9. A measuring device having sensing means for determining a parameter specific to crop material and for use on a harvesting machine, wherein the harvesting machine includes an attachment for picking up crop material, at least one implement for working the crop material fluidly connected to an ejector, wherein the ejector is fluidly connected to a conduit for carrying away the crop material; an improvement comprising: a means for mounting a sensing means at a location between the implement and the conduit. 
     
     
       10. A measuring device according to claim  9 , wherein the measuring device is operative for determining throughput of the crop material. 
     
     
       11. A measuring device according to claim  9 , wherein the measuring device is operative for determining moisture content of the crop material.